Today’s Missoulian, the local newspaper of Missoula, Montana, features an article on legendary Montana fly fishing figure Norman Means, aka “Paul Bunyan.” Means is probably most widely known as the creator of the “Bunyan Bug” fly, fished in Norman Macleans’ A River runs Through It. The article, by Kim Briggeman, is based upon the many mentions of Means in various editions of the Missoulian published during the last century.
For instance, Briggeman offers this quote from a 1928 article: “Norman is a believer in the use of Western Montana products. He makes all his own fishing tackle, and turns out a few fly rods for his friends. These rods have life and endurance, and they are peculiarly adapted to Montana streams because their maker puts them together knowing exactly the kind of water they will be used in.”
It’s a great article, for those interested in Montana’s early and often enigmatic fly tiers. Read it here: “Missoula Rewound: Bunyan fished, Means danced through the heart of the 20th Century.”
A Means tied Bunyan Bug and a Jack Boehme Balsa Bug. They sit on a 1989 edition of A River, featuring wood engraved illustrations by Barry Moser. Boehme was another renowned Missoula fly tier.
The Literary Fly Fisher 
April 24, 2026 at 3:17 PM |
Norman Means taught me to Fly Fish the Blackfoot and Rock Creek with stories and experiences I will never forget.
Likewise, John Fluery stopped and helped me hay as a thirteen year old fatherless boy at Cyr, Montana if I would come fishing with him. He took me fishing at Cyr Bend on the lower Clark Fork and taught me to cast. He gave me a five piece Fenwick and a couple old bamboo poles. He also gave me a quart jar of flies he had tied and introduced me to Pott hair tied flies. John’s act of pure kindnesses Gave me the desire to share a lifetime with Big Brothers and fatherless boys through out my life time.
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August 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM |
Wow! I just saw this comment. Apologies for the slow response.
Those must have been amazing experiences. I’d love to hear more. Do you still have your flies?
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August 11, 2026 at 1:41 AM |
My father owned the Elkhorn Bar in Missoula Montana in the late 1930s. He was not a fly fisherman, like I am today, but he had a friend who made a living tying artificial flies for fly fishing in Missoula. His legal name was Norman Means but went by the name Paul Bunyan like in the fairy tale Paul Bunyan and the Blue Ox.
My father said Paul was one of the best fly fishermen in Missoula and invented a fly he named the ‘Bunyan Bug’ that imitated a stonefly, one of trout’s favorite foods. My father allowed Paul to sell his flies in the bar since fishermen would come into the bar to buy the flies and also buy a beer.
The fly became one of the most famous in fly fishing and imitations of this fly are still used to this day. In 1992 the fly was referenced in one of my favorite movies, ‘A River Runs Through It’ when Paul, played by Brad Pitt, asked his brother Norman played by Craig Sheffer, what fly he was using when they were fishing together, with his brother answering, “Bunyan Bugs.”
Thank You
Mike Connerley
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August 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM |
Thanks for the follow-up, Mike. Those must have been interesting times. Where was the Elkhorn located in Missoula?
Missoula is more-or-less home for me, so I’m always interested in the fishing history there and in the region. I have a few Bunyan Bugs and other flies by the old Missoula master fly-tiers. I’d love to buy you a coffee sometime and chat!
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